SOLVANG — The Wildling Museum of Art and Nature is proud to announce a new milestone – this fall, the Museum paid off its mortgage in full. The Wildling is now debt-free thanks to a number of special supporters and careful fiscal management, an achievement now poising the Museum to plan for its next chapter as a growing Santa Barbara County cultural institution.
The Wildling Museum was founded in 2000 and purchased its building at 1511 Mission Drive in Solvang in 2017 with a $1.6 million loan from the Adams Legacy Foundation, after making a $1 million down payment. This ambitious effort was generously supported by dozens of donors, and the private family foundation set a 10-year timetable for repayment.
During a long-range planning retreat in 2012, the Board of Directors set a key goal to improve the Museum’s financial sustainability. After moving into its current facility in Solvang, they then set their sights on purchasing the building as the most significant step toward this plan. Now, with loan repayment fully accomplished, the Wildling Board is proud to announce that the Museum has achieved its goal five years ahead of schedule.
Becky and Pete Adams, co-founders of the Adams Legacy Foundation, October 2019. Photo by George Rose.
“I’m so happy to see the Wildling thriving,” says Pete Adams, founder of the Adams Legacy Foundation. “The Wildling has built a strong foundation and now can look confidently to the future. I look forward to seeing what they will do.” Joining the Adams in making early significant financial contributions to the purchase were long-time supporters Judy and Jack Stapelmann.
“We are so grateful to the Adams and Stapelmann families for kicking off this campaign,” said executive director Stacey Otte-Demangate. “Their leadership inspired the confidence of our other supporters. It’s an amazing feeling to have paid off the mortgage five years early and we’re so excited to be developing plans for the next several years to make us even more accessible and relevant to our community.”
Both the Wildling’s Advisory Council and Board have each recently held retreats to help the Museum with mapping plans for the future, given this accomplishment. The Board and staff are planning to expand educational offerings in 2023, which may include more hands-on art experiences for families to enjoy during their visits, as well as more classes and free Family Days – the next is scheduled for February 12, 2023 – to make the museum accessible to all.
Summer Family Day at the Wildling, August 2022, Photo by Bob Canepa.
“As the founder of the Wildling Museum of Art and Nature, I can proudly say we’ve come a long way to arrive at this exciting time,” says Patti Jacquemain. “In reflection, back in 1997, my husband Dave and I shared an idea of mine with a group of like-minded individuals to form a museum with art and the environment as its theme. At that time, we had no funds, location to occupy, artwork to show, or staff to do the work. But today, looking back, I cannot express how excited I am about what we have accomplished since we opened our doors in our first location in Los Olivos in 2000. I am especially proud of the many people who believed in us by becoming members, making contributions, and supporting us in so many other ways over the past 22 years.”
“And today, on behalf of all our members, staff, supporters, and others, we have ‘burned our mortgage’ and will continue to provide top-of-the-line art exhibitions, informative programs, and educational classes on both art, nature, and our vanishing environment. Today, I feel our connection with the environment through art, is more important now than ever before.”
About the Wildling Museum
The Wildling Museum of Art and Nature, where art and nature meet, offers visitors a unique perspective on the importance of preserving our natural heritage. Through the eyes of artists, and education and field experiences, guests can renew their relationship with the wilderness and understand its fragile nature – hopefully leaving more committed toward ensuring those spaces remain for future generations. Current visiting hours are weekdays 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. and weekends 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Closed Tuesday and Wednesday. For more information, and to volunteer or join as a member to support this important local arts and nature institution, please visit www.wildlingmuseum.org.